Florence Nightingale was present at Naval Hospital Bremerton during National Nurses Week, May 6-12, 2021.
As a matter of fact, there were 113 Florence Nightingales, each a symbolic token strategically hidden throughout the command as part of an all-hands ‘Find Flo’ scavenger hunt.
“The ‘Find Flo’ hunt was part of a host of events to recognize contributions from all nurses assigned to the command, which culminated with the official Navy Nurse Corps birthday, May 13. Each 113 ‘Find Flo’ tokens represent a year to commemorate the Navy Nurse Corps birthday from 1908.
“The idea of a scavenger hunt was mentioned to me by several of my colleagues, who I would not have been able to pull off nurse’s week without,” explained Lt. j.g. Adeline Guina, Nursing Association organizer of the events. “With the pandemic encouraging distancing, the scavenger hunt was a way for staff members to visit other areas of the hospital and socialize with staff we do not regularly interact with, while searching for the founder of nursing. Some added fun during the pandemic.”
Coincidentally – or not, depending on whom you ask - May 12 is the birthday of Florence Nightingale (1820-1910), considered the founder of modern nursing. It was just two years before Nightingale passed away that then-President Theodore Roosevelt signed the Naval Appropriations Bill which authorized the establishment of the Nurse Corps as a unique staff corps of the Navy. The new corps was staffed by 20 nurses, who became known as the ‘Sacred 20.’
Yet ask any nurse at NHB and they’ll tell you the Navy Nurse Corps birthday coinciding with Nightingale’s birthday and National Nurses Week is really no coincidence.
“I don’t believe it is a coincidence. The nursing profession has always identified with ‘Mother Flo.’ Having the Nurse Corps birthday is a tie to our origins as a profession,” said Cmdr. Kathryn Jensen, assistant director for Nursing Services.
“I would rather call it fate than coincidental. Florence Nightingale and the Sacred Twenty had a lot in common. The profession of nursing and the Navy Nurse Corps are indebted to the valuable work that these women leaders completed. Their history, mission and lasting effects are in tandem. You cannot have the Navy Nurse Corps without Florence Nightingale’s work,” noted Lt. Kaitlyn Harmon.
“It’s a coincidence that the Navy Nurse Corps birthday is on May 13. But also fitting, as Florence catered the sick during the Crimean War while the Sacred 20 catered to the sick in World War I. The Sacred 20 were instrumental in the establishment of the Navy Nurse Corps, just as Florence Nightingale was instrumental in the establishment of modern nursing. Either way, both birthdays are important to remember as the foundation of where we are today and why we continue to do what we do,” added Guina.
For Guina, Nightingale has long been an inspiration.
“Florence Nightingale’s story was motivating to learn about in nursing school. She defeated the odds because of her dedication to making a difference in the world. Florence Nightingale inspired me, and I’m sure many others, to firmly advocate for what is right and prioritize safety for our patients,” stated Guina.
Such legacy has been commemorated all week at NHB/NMRTC Bremerton. There’s been daily events, including a Nurses’ Power Hour, with a panel of retired and current Navy Nurse Corps officers speaking about their careers and experience. There has been an ice cream social, raffle bid, virtual 5K in honor of Lt. Moani Daniel, along with the aforementioned scavenger hunt, the actual Nurse Corps birthday celebration, and numerous Blessing of the Hands services to accommodate all shifts of the staff nurses.
The overlapping acknowledgements of all nurses culminated with a traditional Navy birthday celebration on the quarterdeck. Letters from directors from other Navy Medicine corps chiefs were shared, including from Rear Adm. Bruce Gillingham, Navy surgeon general and chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery who thanked the Nurse Corps for their dedication, service and sacrifice, followed by the oldest and youngest Nurse Corps officer cutting the cake.
There are currently approximately 4,000 active duty and reservist Navy Nurse Corps officer in 17 different specialties, including approximately 65 Nurse Corps officers and 70 civilian nurses at NHB.
NHB Nurse Corps officers handle a host of specialties as part of their overall duties, including family nurse practitioner, executive medicine, nurse anesthetist, clinical nurse, perioperative nursing, maternal child, ambulatory, medical surgical, critical care, and pediatric nursing.
| Date Taken: |
05.13.2021 |
| Date Posted: |
05.13.2021 21:08 |
| Story ID: |
396361 |
| Location: |
BREMERTON, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: |
169 |
| Downloads: |
0 |
PUBLIC DOMAIN
This work, Going with the Flo – Unified, Reliable, Ready - at Naval Hospital Bremerton, by Douglas Stutz, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
